Boxes 19 and 20: Jordan Lake dam

When Jordan Lake was created in the '70's and early '80's, it produced a tradeoff of sorts for the bird world. Gone were vast swaths of bottomland forest, open farm fields, and marsh. Prothonotary warblers, wood ducks, and other bottomland species declined precipitously. The sheer size of the newly flooded area, however, became a boon for Bald Eagles and wintering gulls. Jordan Lake, essentially an artificial body of water, has today become one of the top breeding areas for Bald Eagles in the eastern US.

Jordan Lake was created by the development of the B. Everett Jordan dam, a massive project by the Army Corps of Engineers designed to control flooding in the coastal plain. By limiting outflows from the Haw and New Hope river systems, the dam effectively tamed the Cape Fear river to the south and east. The water above the dam has since become a resource for recreation and drinking water, though rarely without controversy.

The habitat surrounding Jordan Lake is dominated by loblolly pine forest, which supports healthy numbers of Brown-headed Nuthatches, along with the nesting Bald Eagles. The lack of large open fields, however, along with encroaching development, make the area largely unsuitable for Barn Owls.  In fact, when I initially pored over maps of Jordan Lake, I determined that our nest boxes would be better off elsewhere. The only section with any viable habitat was at the dam itself, way in the southeast corner of Chatham County.

Then I got news that my friend Andrew, while birding at dawn near the dam, had seen two Barn Owls in flight!! That was all the incentive I needed. I contacted Francis Ferrell, who works for the Army Corps, and asked if we could put up some nest boxes at the dam. We then arranged to meet on a Sunday in February to install two boxes.

The weather was perfect for nest box installation, though the ground was still soggy from a recent snowstorm. Francis thought that one box could be situated near the pump station. After showing us the spot, we all agreed that the surrounding habitat was perfect.

Barn owls like two things in particular: open grassland, and proximity to running water. This spot has both. . .the discharge from the dam is only 100 yards away. We quickly had the first box assembled and installed. Pictured below: Francis, Sasha, and Norm.

This box can easily be viewed from atop the dam. On the horizon is steam from the Shearon Harris nuclear facility. The clearcut area in the far background is being converted to longleaf pine and native grasses.

We decided to put the second box on the lake side, just north of the dam. Wintering Barn Owls are known to be fond of open marsh habitat. We quickly found just the right location.

We soon had the second box installed and ready for roosting owls. The visitor's center can be seen across the lake. 

Personally, if I were a Barn Owl, I would find this deluxe, lakeside penthouse to be a sweet little pad. Plenty of habitat in all directions, and lots of tiny rodents just waiting to be eaten.

The view in the picture below is from the visitor's center. Squint your eyes, and you might see the second nest box to the left of the distant trees. Might there be a hunting Barn Owl or two out there in the near future?? Scan the grassy areas, and the dam itself, with a good pair of binoculars at dawn or dusk. 

The Barn Owls that were recently seen were likely migrating through our area. It's possible, though, that a juvenile pair will find this area enticing, and want to stay. Breeding should be starting very soon. Will a pair of young owls find our nest boxes, and make Jordan dam their home??

Boxes 15-18: Butner Gamelands and Flat River Impoundments

The Butner Gamelands and Flat River Waterfowl Impoundments offer some of the best potential Barn Owl habitat in central North Carolina. Near the Granville County line in northern Durham County, these lands were set aside by the Army Corps of Engineers for waterfowl hunting, after the creation of Falls Lake. Today, state officials manage the vast acreage for various species of duck, as well as popular game species like Mourning Dove, Woodcock, and Snipe. The combination of flooded impoundments, dry open fields, hedgerows, and fragmented forest also provides ideal conditions for small rodents. The abundance of small rodents in turn feeds the resident predators, which include coyote, fox, bobcat, and various birds of prey.

Barn Owls are highly adapted to flooded wetland and marsh environments. In the Eastern US, the Barn Owl is most associated with coastal marshes, low country grasslands, and inland wetland areas near agricultural fields. The contiguous nature of the Butner Gamelands, along with the quality wetland and grassland habitat, make it an ideal location for our nest box program.

In early December of 2013, I approached Chris Baranski of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission about placing some Barn Owl boxes on the gamelands and surrounding properties. Chris was very accomodating, and even offered to help with the siting process. He knows the gamelands as well as anyone, being the land manager, an avid hunter, and a current resident on the property. By early January, Chris had helped us select four or five optimal nest box locations, and had our project approved by all the necessary agencies.

On "Superb Owl" weekend in late January, we had four boxes and mounting systems ready to go. Because I had managed to injure my back (lifting 80lb bags of concrete can do that), I called upon Sasha and Tom to help out with installation. Norm and I wanted to get all four boxes installed in one day, so we needed two trucks. We loaded the equipment we needed during a heavy downpour.

We arranged to meet Chris, who offered to help with installation, on Monday morning. We had all arrived a little bit early, so some milling around and comparison of pickup trucks ensued. This is the trusted process men use to assess work situations and figure out logistics.

It wasn't long, however, before Sasha had us back on task. We had four boxes to install, and rain clouds continued to threaten. Luckily for me,  I wouldn't have to do any real work, as my back was experiencing agonizing bouts of spasm.

Within minutes, the team had assembled the first nest box. After putting up more than a dozen of these things, we had the system pretty much down pat.

Below, Sasha, Chris, and Tom model our first installation of the day. Sitting in a patch of blackberry and sumac, adjacent to several dove fields and equipment sheds, this box offers excellent accomodations to potential Barn Owl residents.

By 11am, we had hardly even gotten started. The team was soon on the task of putting up the second nest box. I have to say, it's really nice being the photographer during the installation process. These tires are heavy!!!

Norm is all business during these operations, but Tom and Sasha find ways to keep things light. Here's Sasha wielding a machete. I'm pretty sure Tom is only laughing out of nervousness.

Chris seemed right in his element during this process. I'm convinced he was having even more fun than we were. Here he is using a chainsaw to clear out space in the hedgerow.

I really enjoy installation pictures, because a lot of prep work goes into scouting the locations, ordering the parts, assembling the poles and boxes, and transport. When a box finally goes up, there's a palpable feeling of euphoria in the air. It feels great to be outside, doing something tangible for a threatened wildlife species. Here's the assembly gang next to the second nest box at Butner Gamelands.

Like the box we installed earlier in the day, this one overlooks dove fields, which are primarily planted in millet during the springtime. There are plenty of voles and cotton rats to be had in these parts.

After the second installation, Tom had to head back home, but we still had two more nest boxes to put up. The remaining two boxes were slated for the Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment, on adjacent gamelands in Durham County. Hunting lands, while seemingly dangerous to all flying critters, are actually beneficial for non-game species like the Barn Owl. State regulated hunting lands are subsidized by license fees, and are well managed by trained professionals. Where any sort of grassland or wetland management is in place, Barn Owl nest box programs should take full advantage. 

By noon, storms were threatening again, and the team went right to work. Chris leveled the ground, while Norm and Sasha navigated the pole mount system.

Within minutes, the third box of the day was put into place. It now takes us, on average, about twenty minutes to install a nest box, once the pole and box have been assembled and transported. These boxes can easily be placed by a team of only three people.

As you can see, this box is easily accessible by the public, being located next to the trail around the main impoundment. In the spring, the water will be drawn down, leaving most of the area as relatively dry, open fields. Below is a shot from across the impoundment, and illustrates what much of the area may look like in late March. If you squint, you may see the small white speck that is the nest box.

Box four was to be installed on the opposite side of the main impoundment, in much the same habitat. The division of labor had already taken on a predictable pattern by this point. I still enjoyed the role of staff photographer, though I admit to being a little jealous of Chris and his chainsaw.

With the hardwood mulch inside the box, and the mount fixed, Sasha and the gang did another Iwo Jima impression.

Due to the prevailing winds, and the movement of the sun, it's important to orient the opening of the nest box to the southeast. This prevents the dehydration and overheating of any future inhabitants, especially during spring and summer.

Four nest boxes are now installed at Butner Game Lands and the nearby Flat River Waterfowl Impoundments. We are especially excited to have Chris and the Wildlife Resources Commission as partners in sponsoring these four boxes. Having dedicated biology professionals on board is crucial to bringing Barn Owls back in any sustainable numbers.

Please be mindful that the Butner Gamelands and Flat River Impoundments are open for hunting during most of the year. Although birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts are welcome, it's best to explore the areas on Sundays, when hunting is off limits. Please check with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, or your local wildlife officer, before venturing onto state managed gameland properties.
The Piedmont Barn Owl Initiative now has 6 boxes up in Durham County, and a total of 18 in the four county Triangle region. We are hoping to put 8 more boxes up before springtime. With any luck, we may just get a roosting Barn Owl, or even a nesting pair, this April or May. Stay tuned!!!

Boxes 13 and 14: Quail Roost Farm

In 1875, a group of prominent businessmen acquired 800 acres in northern Durham County to form a hunting club, which they named the Quail Roost Hunting Lodge. Among the club members were tobacco magnate Washington Duke and visionary banker and developer John Sprunt Hill. For decades, the lodge and the surrounding grounds provided ideal recreation for the Durham elite. Deer, turkey, and fowl were in good numbers. By the end of the first world war, however, the abundance of wildlife, particularly quail, had dropped precipitously. The members realized that economic changes had to be made, and soon began to operate the lodge as a dairy.

John Sprunt Hill and family acquired the property outright in the 1920's, buying hundreds of adjacent acres in the process. Houses were built on the farm for the workers, and Quail Roost Farm, as it came to be called, became a thriving dairy operation. By the 1940's, Hill's descendents had amassed over 1800 acres and had established a reputation for breeding the finest Guernsey cattle. A thoroughbred horse operation was also started on the property in 1937.

During the 1960's, the dairy industry changed dramatically, and the business model for the property changed once again. The equestrian operation was expanded, riding rings were added, and a veterinary clinic was built. By the mid 1970's, Quail Roost Farm had become a local hotspot for riding lessons and more technical equestrian training. Today, Equiventure LLC, an internationally known equestrian training center, operates out of the main barn. Though much of the land has been donated or sold off in recent years (much of which has become NC State's Hill Forest), the original property is still owned by members of the Hill family.

Quail Roost Farm today offers a rare glimpse into a genteel Piedmont past. Stately cottages and barns dot the hillside, interspersed with ponds, forest, and horse pasture. The farm is so picturesque that it's listed on the National Film Registry. Quail Roost also offers excellent wildlife habitat, especially for birds. It is one of the best places in Durham County to find Eastern Meadowlarks, American Pipits, and Grasshopper Sparrows. Kestrels are usually present, working the open pastures for grasshoppers. Even the eponymous Bobwhite quail can be seen darting across the road on occasion, though they have never returned to their past abundance.

When I spoke with Mrs. Hill last December about placing Barn Owl boxes on her property, her eyes lit up almost immediately. Many years ago, she had rescued and raised an injured Great Horned Owl, and had grown very fond of owls in general. She also mentioned that her land managers, years ago, had discovered "monkey faced" owlets in the attic of her barn. She quickly agreed to host some boxes. "Anywhere you want," she said.

Luckily I knew the property fairly well. My friends Scott and Tom count the birds at Quail Roost with me twice a year for Audubon, and we often remark how perfect the habitat is for Barn Owls. Unfortunately, these threatened owls had not been seen for over a decade. Research shows, however, that Barn Owls will often return to previous haunts when appropriate nest boxes are installed.

In late January, I met up with Norm, Ken, and Sasha to install two new nest boxes on the Quail Roost property. A winter storm was headed our way, so we knew we had a small window of time to work. Luckily, the boxes and poles were ready to go, due to some prep we had done the month before. My dog Tita tagged along for the ride.

Every time we do an installation, Norm ends up with the drill duties. He quickly had the box ready to mount on the pole. We used sturdier tires this time around, going with 205s rather than 185s, and using over 200lbs of concrete. This system would be virtually indestructible, and very resistant to wind and the elements.

It didn't take long for Sasha and Ken to level the ground and erect the first box. We had chosen a spot that was along a hedgerow, relatively open, but out of the way of tractors. The site is also adjacent to a trail used by people riding their horses. I foresee this box becoming a frequent topic of conversation for riders.

Here's a photo of Box 13 fully installed. If you squint, you'll see the Mute Swans way back in the pond. They have begun to breed on the farm, and have established a feral population. The pond is also very popular with ducks. On this January day, we saw American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, and Bufflehead.

Below is a wider view of the potential habitat. The field here is managed for hay, but there are dozens of acres of potential habitat in every direction. Can you see the little white speck way in the back, just below the tree line?

With one box installed, we soon turned to Box 14. I had planned on placing the second box closer to  the structures on the property. After scouting around, we found some grain silos that looked promising.

Barn Owls often use grain silos as roosting sites, and have even been known to nest in them on occasion. I took the opportunity to study the functional architecture of these ubiquitous farm structures. Here's a view looking up from within.

Here's a view of the shaft running adjacent to the silo. There weren't many ledges suitable for young owlets, but plenty of footholds for a roost site. 

There were many doors and openings into the silos as well, offering entrance to both predator and prey. Surely this spot has harbored Barn Owls in the past. I decided to take a closer look inside.

A bit of forensics turned up some startling clues. Remnants of Barn Owl pellets, perhaps?? Small rodent skulls and femurs littered the floor. "Look at the bones!!!!!!!!!!"

We quickly decided to locate the box right next to the silos. Where there is smoke, there's bound to be fire, right? The team went right to work.

Within twenty minutes, we had put up a box too good to pass up. If only one of our 14 current boxes is to get Barn Owls this spring, I'd put money on this one.

Any potential residents will have premier box seats for all equestrian events.

How could a Barn Owl family pass on this opportunity? Plenty of food, premier habitat, horses.  Heck, I'd like to move to this place myself!!!!!

Boxes 13 and 14 are fully installed at Quail Roost Farm. These boxes represent our first two installments in Durham County, and the third "cluster" in the Triangle region. Maybe, with some luck, Quail Roost Farm can change its name in the future to Owl Roost Farm. 

Box 12: Cohen Farm

Silk Hope, North Carolina is a small rural community in western Chatham County. Only a 30 minute drive from Chapel Hill, Silk Hope retains the character of the 19th century Piedmont. . .large, open farmlands interspersed with rolling hills and endless country roads. Without a GPS or a good map, it would be very easy to disappear in this part of the Triangle. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Silk Hope gets its name from a little piece of rural history. Legend has it that many decades ago, a local farmer travelled to China and brought back some mulberry trees. With the idea of starting a new silk industry here in the Carolinas, the farmer planted the trees, and waited several years for them to grow. When the trees were large enough to harvest, silk worms were placed on the leaves. . .but they wouldn't eat. The farmer had planted the wrong species of mulberry tree!!!! 

The attempt at creating a silk industry might have been a disaster, but it hasn't deterred Silk Hope from becoming a resilient farm community. Much of the productive land today is planted in monoculture crops, like corn and soybeans, not unlike the rest of rural America. However, there are plenty of cattle farms in the area, which can provide ideal hunting grounds for Barn Owls. 

When scouting land around Silk Hope for our Barn Owl Initiative, I asked Bo Howes of Triangle Land Conservancy if he had any leads. It turns out that TLC had bought some easements around a large cattle farm, and most of the land was in pasture. He sent me the ArcGIS maps of the property, and I quickly realized the property was perfect for one of our nest boxes. 

I then looked at the map a little closer. The layout seemed strangely familiar. The address seemed familiar too. Wait a minute! I knew this property!!!! Of all the farms in Silk Hope, I knew this exact property. . .because I had lived on it!!!

Back in 1997, when I first moved to North Carolina, it was in Silk Hope that I landed. I rented an old rustic cabin on a large farm, and commuted into Carrboro and Chapel Hill for work. It was a magical time for me. I remember being very in touch with the seasons, even the phases of the moon, and all the wildlife sounds on the property. I loved that farm!!! Here's the old cabin as it looks today. 

I spoke with the landowners, who remembered me, and they quickly agreed to host a Barn Owl box. They were particularly pleased with the prospect of owls eating the mice, voles, and cotton rats on the property. Barn Owls are called Barn Owls for a reason. They like to roost and nest in structures where there is plenty of food, and rodents are the main course on the menu.

Modern structures, however, don't always have the right kinds of rafters necessary to support owls. So instead of putting a nest box in one of the barns, we decided to go with our trusted pole mount system. On a chilly day in early December, we loaded up the truck, and took the scenic route out to the Cohen farm in Silk Hope, with the mission of installing Box 12. We quickly decided on an open field. An embedded rock in the ground made this section too dangerous for the farmer to mow, but provided a nice flat spot for a nest box. 

Within minutes, the team was at work. Norm screwed the flange to the base of the box. Ken used his smartphone Apps to assess level ground, and to find the right direction for the nest hole. I placed mulch in the box, to prevent the excess movement of any potential owl eggs. Once the system was ready, Ken did his best Iwo Jima impression.

Box number 12 is fully installed and ready for residents!! This is our first nest box in Chatham County, and represents another opportunity for re-establishing Barn Owls in the Piedmont. We hope to have more boxes up in Chatham soon.

Look closely at the next photograph, and you will see the nest box in the distance. Open pasture plus barn structures equals Club Med for Barn Owls. Hopefully a migrating juvenile will recognize the opportunities here and want to stay.

And no, Barn Owls will not eat your chickens, or your cats for that matter.

All in all it was a special day. Ken made a new friend.

This young calf seemed eager to make new acquaintances.

This beautiful farm in rural Chatham County, with hundreds of acres of open pasture, offers new hope to a very special bird. Maybe one day, if our nesting program is successful, they will rename this community Owl Hope. Let's hope our nest boxes don't prove to be the wrong type of mulberry tree!